Re: The History of Packard

Posted by HH56 On 2008/8/28 9:32:41

Dad bought a new 51 400 and a year later a used 300. We had both cars for several years and no major problems that I can recall. The 400 made several cross country trips. He traded the 300 in on a Mercury which was a dog and soon gotten rid of. I "inherited" the 400 going to HS, and never was a car treated so rudely, crudely or any other way-- but held up despite low oil, used oil, low grade gas, lead footed teenagers and just about any other indignity. All in all, a tremendously reliable car--even if it did have to stop at every other gas station.

My grandmother had a 51 Chrysler which also performed well although it did have some issues with the Fluid drive transmission caused when she aimed for low range and got reverse at about 20mph. It didn't destroy the trans and served her for several years but did have a tendency to slip out and grind gears. Wasn't frequent but required stepping on clutch, trans to neutral and back to drive, then all well until it happened again.

I really do think cars of that generation were not necessarily that much better but people were used to taking cars to the dealer for the more frequent service. Who knows how many problems were prevented by something being taken care of at no or low cost rather than breaking down one day.